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The ink has finally dried and Nuclear Blast Records is proud to announce the worldwide signing of the Bay Area’s indomitable thrash metal band HEATHEN!

Founding member & guitarist Lee Altus comments on the new alliance:

“I’m really happy and couldn’t think of a better label for HEATHEN. I’ve known people at Nuclear Blast, some of whom have been fans of the band going as far back as the early demo days, and have been friends with them for many years. It’s amazing for me to think that throughout this band’s career, every album we recorded has been released on a different label. I can finally say that we have found home. Nuclear Blast has become a mecca for Bay Area thrash bands and we are happy to join our friends and partners in crime Exodus, Death Angel, Testament and Forbidden. Now it’s time to get to work on the new album!”

Lead singer David White adds: “I want to thank all the fans for their amazing support; we do not take any of this lightly! Now we move forward with a true Metal record company that really understands what we’re all about, 2012 and beyond!!!”

Jaap Wagemaker of the A&R Department at Nuclear Blast Germany shares the following:

“It is no secret that the staff of Nuclear Blast has a soft spot for thrash metal. We all grew up here with classics such as Breaking The Silence and Victims Of Deception, and who doesn’t remember that legendary tour from 1991 with SEPULTURA, SACRED REICH and HEATHEN destroying the stages night after night! We are totally stoked to announce that these legendary Bay Area Thrashers have inked a deal with us and are now labelmates with EXODUS, DEATH ANGEL,TESTAMENT, FORBIDDEN, ANTHRAX, SEPULTURA, OVERKILL, KREATOR, DESTRUCTION and TANKARD!!! Since HEATHEN’s reunion for Thrash of the Titans, we had been following the band very closely over the last couple of years with first-hand information from Lee Altus – who is also swinging the axe in EXODUS – and what we heard from him made us very curious! After seeing HEATHEN play an amazing show at Rock Hard and their release of another classic album with The Evolution of Chaos, it was very clear to us that the band needed to become part of the Nuclear family as well. Seeing the band play several times at last year’s Thrashfest Classics, we were finally able to make this work!! With the signing of HEATHEN, another thrash dream has came true!! Welcome home guys!!!”

Forged in the fertile breeding ground of the Bay Area’s thrash scene in 1984 and debuting onto the worldwide tape-trading scene in 1986 with their six-song “Pray For Death” demo, HEATHEN went on to create the now classic Breaking The Silence in 1987 (whose opening track “Death By Hanging” quickly became a live staple) and 1991’s Victims Of Deception, which included the nine-and-a-half minute opus “Heathen’s Song.”

Reunited in 2001 for San Francisco’s Thrash of the Titans benefit for Testament’s Chuck Billy and Death’s Chuck Schuldiner, HEATHEN reemerged in full force after a 19-year absence with stellar reviews for 2010’s The Evolution Of Chaos and will begin recording their fourth studio album later this year.

HEATHEN has performed their brand of guitar-driven, fuel-injected thrash metal in Europe at numerous summer festivals, on the Thrash Fest Classics tour with co-headliners Exodus & Sepultura, and the Killfest tour with Overkill, in North America on last year’s spring tour with Destruction, and most recently at the “Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance” memorial in Oakland in February. Their live sets continually test the endurance of headbanging audiences everywhere.

HEATHEN 2012 is David White on vocals; Lee Altus on guitar; Kragen Lum on guitar; Jason Viebrooks on bass; and Darren Minter on drums.

All artists/ bands will play solo sets, then the night will end with one huge ALLSTAR Jam.

“I couldn’t be happier to see how this show is shaping up. It will be a great night of acoustic rock, and with proceeds from the show going to Fallen Blue and our great friends at Safe Call Now. Who wouldn’t want to come out and see this show??? I can’t thank Vince Anderson of Shockwave Magazine enough for his support of Fallen Blue since day one. AJ and I have some great things planned, to include some one-of-a-kind raffle items. AJ could be challenged in a drum-off, and Randy looks to close out the show with some true rock talents in an all-star jam. And this is all I can say because we are working to add even more to the show, to include artists who may or may not be playing a couple of days later at the M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, MD. We have high hopes for local police bag-pipers to open the show, as well as a rousing rendition of the National Anthem. Stay tuned!” – John Guarnieri, Fallen Blue

“Jamsync Music is very proud to be involved and affiliated with John Gaurnieri and Fallen Blue. This event is for such a great cause and we are honored to have Iconic Tonic perfoming. We may even have a surprise of our own! Thanks to John G. and Fallen Blue for having us.” – Bill Chavis, Jamsync Music

Hello friends in Portland! Unfortunately, we have had some serious troubles with our bus breaking down, and we won’t be able to make it to Portland in time for the show on Friday. HOWEVER, the fantastic club and promoter have been able to help us move the show to this Sunday (April 15)! We can’t apologize enough to everyone for the last minute date change, and we hope to still see you all this coming Sunday. Portland – WE LOVE YOU AND WE ARE ON OUR WAY!!

There have been so many great releases in March and April already, it is easy for some bands to get lost in the shuffle. A band that has been sandwiched between my recent playlist of Jack Blades, Van Halen, Shinedown, Accept, Halestorm, and Adrenaline Mob, is Santa Barbara, California’s Winchester Rebels.

Winchester Rebels released their debut, Three Sheets To the Wind last fall. With the release of their recent video clip, “Flying” (see video below), I knew I needed to check these guys out. After giving Three Sheets To the Wind a few plays, I hear a variety of influences. The best way I could describe the band is a modern rock band with classic influences. The band’s sound is bolstered by the big voice of Nick Hunt. Mr. Hunt has a clean vocal style with an above average range. . When his vocals soar, the songs really jump out at me. His voice is a pure pleasure to listen to. He isn’t the only talented musician in this band though. Guitarists Nick Fitzgerald and James Longoria are solid players. They may be guilty of playing the down tuned guitars a little bit, but they also sneak in some pretty cool riffs that make that tunes stand out.

I have read where Winchester Rebels have been compared to Stone Temple Pilots, and I would agree that there are some songs on Three Sheets to The Wind that could easily fit on an STP record. The songs “Loaded Gun”, “Taste of Hell” and “Silence” definitely fit that style.

Some of my favorites on this CD are “Private Angel”, “Down”,and “Dining With Devils” . There really isn’t a bad song in the bunch.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a major label signed the Winchester Rebels. They are far better than many of the bands you hear on FM radio today. I truly have been enjoying their CD Three Sheets To The Wind, and I think you will too.

Strictly limited, this exclusive package contains the “Best Of Wacken” DVD, a double audio CD recorded live in Glasgow (2011) on the “Call To Arms” tour, plus the full and complete Saxon W:O:A performances from 2004 / 2007 / 2009 – each on a separate DVD and, a Saxon flag. The real surprise is that 10 ‘Golden Tickets’ are randomly included in the box sets, which will allow the 10 lucky winners to visit any Saxon concert in any city around the world (excluding festival appearances). ‘Silver Tickets’ giving access to special online content are for the remaining boxes so there are no losers – only winners.

A band that I am expecting to make a big splash on the hard rock scene in 2012 is Frankfurt’s Torpedohead. The band has just released a new video clip, “Rotten Radio”. This song is from the band’s up and coming album, Greetings From Heartbreak Key. Enjoy & Happy Friday!